Caron Streibich covers dining out throughout Northeast Florida. If you have information about new restaurant openings, menu changes or other food-related news, contact her here. Streibich is also the host of our regular Folio Weekly Bite Club gatherings. Follow the Bite Club on Facebook or Twitter to learn more about it.

After three years as a civil engineer, Grace Kernan found office life to be mundane — except when someone was celebrating a birthday. She eagerly baked everyone's cakes, tailoring the theme and flavor of the cake to the lucky birthday boy or girl.

Fast-forward to 2013: Kernan is now following her passion, recently opening Liberty Bakery in an old Skinner's Dairy Store at the corner of Bowden and Parental Home roads. She keeps busy five days a week whipping up everything from scratch: bread, cupcakes, cookies, cakes and pastries (get the croissant-like, flaky sticky buns with cinnamon and sugar). Every carb, even the English muffins and biscuits, is prepared fresh from scratch.

"Making food for someone really is a nice way to share how much you care about their well-being — even strangers!" Kernan said.

Six sandwiches are available at lunchtime and tout witty names like Abra-Ham Lincoln, Red, White & BBQ, Johnny Apple-Cheese, We the Pesto, and Two If by Brie. We the Pesto won over my tastebuds — homemade bread toasted and topped with shaved chicken, pesto aioli, vine-ripened tomatoes and a tangy balsamic glaze. In addition to these patriotic choices, there are salads and soups. Favorites include French onion, sherried tomato and creamy tortilla.

Kernan's father was in the Navy, so patriotism has always been important to her family. And while she can't pinpoint when her love affair for baking began, she quickly recalls her first specialty cake. It was in the shape of a rock, and Kernan iced the words "Mom Rocks!" on it for Mother's Day about nine years ago. And the rest is history.

As for sweets, there are abundant offerings. Cake is available by the slice (the fluffy carrot cake will change your life), and cookie and cupcake flavors change daily.